Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has moved to reassure supporters that record signing Morgan Rogers and star man Cole Palmer can both feature prominently in his side, despite fears the two attacking talents might compete for the same spot on the pitch.
Chelsea broke the British transfer record last month to sign Rogers from Aston Villa in a deal worth £117million. The move raised questions among fans, given that Rogers and Palmer, who came through Manchester City's academy together and remain close friends off the pitch, both prefer operating as a No10. In a traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, that would typically leave room for only one of them in their favoured role.
However, Alonso, who joined Chelsea this summer, insists his tactical approach will allow both players to flourish simultaneously. Speaking to Men In Blazers, the Spanish coach explained that positional labels matter less than the players' versatility and understanding of one another.
"Both of them can be No10," Alonso said. "Both of them can be No8s or wingers. It's not just about one position, it's about dynamism. That they understand and that they connect well with each other."
Alonso built his managerial reputation with an innovative 3-4-2-1 system at Bayer Leverkusen, guiding the club to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season. That flexible shape could offer a blueprint for how he intends to accommodate both Rogers and Palmer at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer endured a somewhat subdued campaign last season, his form disrupted by injury problems. Still, he managed 10 league goals and one assist across 26 Premier League appearances, though his struggles ultimately cost him a place in England's World Cup squad.
Alonso was emphatic about the importance of building the team around his creative talisman. "You need to have confidence," he said. "You need to know that the system works, that you are enjoying your game, and that you have your responsibilities. Cole is a special player. If we want to have a great Chelsea, we need to have a great Cole. For that, we need to build a strong structure, stable enough to reach him in the right places and moments. Then, he will make the difference."
Beyond the Rogers and Palmer conundrum, Chelsea have been busy strengthening across the squad ahead of their season opener at Fulham next Monday. New arrivals include defensive reinforcements Marco Palestra, Pep Chavarria and Maxence Lacroix, along with Emmanuel Emegha and Valentin Barco, who both arrive from sister club Strasbourg to bolster the attack and midfield.
Perhaps more surprising were the additions of experienced campaigners Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, signed from Brighton and Sunderland respectively, to bring greater maturity to a predominantly young squad.
Alonso outlined the thinking behind blending youth with experience. "The squad has potential and I really like it, but there were some things we could improve and I analysed from the outside and after talking with people in the club; the players, we found what they were missing," he said. "We need to have the right balance in everything. The right balance in physicality, the right balance in talent and experience. You need to have the right balance in players you need to develop, and to develop this maturity.
"Nothing is perfect but we have come into a moment where we have done things in a logical way when it comes to football and now we are at a good starting point for this new project. There was plenty of talent. I was missing this composure, the minutes to go through difficult moments, this experience to know how to deal with things when things weren't going your way. And that leadership to help the young ones - this is no secret in football. Young ones, they need support and this support normally comes with players with more minutes and more experience in their legs."
Based on reporting from standard-football.